Failure to Yield Car Accidents in Los Angeles

California state law establishes very specific guidelines for the order in which drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and anyone else at a traffic intersection should proceed forward. Following these “right-of-way” laws is vital to preventing collisions and the injuries that may result from them, and anyone who causes a crash specifically by violating these rules may hold civil liability for any losses they cause someone else to sustain through their misconduct.

As any experienced car accident lawyer could tell you, though, taking effective legal action over failure to yield car accidents in Los Angeles can be much more challenging in practice than it might seem in theory. Fortunately, you have help available from the legal professionals at CD Law who will take a personable approach to your claim and give you the hands-on, one-on-one experience you deserve to get you paid fairly for your damages.

What Are the Right-of-Way Laws for LA Drivers?

Whenever two or more vehicles arrive at the same intersection together in California, whichever vehicle arrives there first has the right-of-way to advance through the intersection first. If two or more vehicles arrive at an intersection simultaneously, each individual driver should yield to the vehicle on their right, and drivers advancing straight through the intersection have right-of-way over drivers turning left and crossing over an oncoming traffic lane.

Additionally, pedestrians who are lawfully inside crosswalks always have the right-of-way over cars or other vehicles advancing over the crosswalks, and cars entering a public street from a parking lot, side street, alley, or driveway should always yield to oncoming traffic already in the roadway. Similarly, drivers already in roundabouts have the right-of-way over drivers entering the roundabout. Finally, anyone approaching a posted “Yield” sign must yield to oncoming traffic regardless of whether that would conflict with another of the rules listed above. When a Los Angeles motorist does not follow these right-of-way rules and causes a failure to yield crash as a result, they could be held liable for all ensuing injuries and losses.

Proving Someone Else Liable for Specific Losses

Someone who breaks one or more of the right-of-way laws applicable to California drivers has violated the “duty of care.” All drivers must act lawfully and responsibly behind the wheel at all times. Anyone who can prove that such a “breach of duty” was the main and direct cause of a crash can demand civil compensation from the at-fault driver for all “damages” they have suffered because of the wreck.

Importantly, it is possible to recover through a successful lawsuit or settlement demand for both past and future losses relative to when the legal process begins—for example, both medical expenses for emergency care received immediately after a crash and expected future costs of long-term rehabilitative and maintenance care for lingering injuries. However, while there are no legal restrictions on anyone’s right to recover for objective “economic” damages like medical bills and lost work income after a Los Angeles failure to yield car wreck, uninsured drivers are prohibited from seeking any civil compensation for “non-economic” damages like physical pain and psychological distress.

Consider Working With a Los Angeles Attorney on a Failure to Yield Car Accident Case

Not yielding to the right-of-way of another vehicle is a textbook example of negligent driving, and it very much can serve as the basis for a civil lawsuit if it directly leads to an otherwise preventable wreck. Even if you have lots of evidence on your side, though, you may still have a difficult time getting all the compensation you need for your crash-related injuries without the support of a seasoned car accident lawyer.

If you have been injured in a failure to yield car accident in Los Angeles, contacting the capable legal counsel at CD Law should be among your top priorities. Call today to schedule a private meeting.